Hi everyone! I stumbled upon this site while reading the forums at MDA, and I got really excited after seeing the workout program, so simple yet challenging and with room for customization. I have just finished Level 1 and had a blast doing so, CAN'T WAIT to start L2 this next monday.

Now here's the thing... after about a year of following the PBF program, i've reached above level 4 on every bw exercise in the program, except for pull ups/chin ups (maxed out push ups, squats and planks, still stuck on half handstand pushups), and after reading the simplefit requirements, i think it's because maybe i've been doing the wrong: you see, i don't use a pull up bar...

I use this:

As you can see, i use an old towel for better grip (there's this small gap that makes it painful to hold normally), it has a standard doorway height and the "bar" part is too wide to close my hand around it. I keep my arms close to my head (between the two small bars at each side), and am able to actully raise my chin above the "bar" and mostly pull 8 to 10 consecutive ones before failure; PBF calls for 12 consecutive ones before mastering basic pull/chin ups, -when i try to pull those last 4, or 2, i mostly reach forehead level and barely can control my drop.

What do you think? Am i doing it wrong? Any tips or suggestions? Right now, getting a pull up bar is out of my budget and ALL my doors are like those in the pic, so no frame.

I really hope you guys can help me with this. Thanks in advance and keep strong!

Let qualify this by saying I know very little about exercise theory or science. But I think you may be doing them wrong. I'm sure an inability to have a proper grip must make your pullups more difficult than normal.

Pull up bars are not a lot of money at all. But it looks as if your doors are rather wide. Why not try betting pullup rings instead? Maybe you could just wrap them around that top post and let them hang?

Your pullup bar doesn't need to be a legitimate bar. I've heard some will simply mount plumbing to a door. Go to Lowe's or Home Depot and seek advice there. Let them tell you what you need. If you can't afford the items new, then go to a dump or junk yard. Maybe they have the exact pipes you need used. Go buy the screws you need new. Maybe you can find some padding to wrap around the pipe for grips or use athletic tape they put on baseball bats. Of course, at the end of the day, you may be spending about $25 which is the price of pullup rings.

If you did pull-ups without the towel, your forearms and grip would get crazy strong! Maybe doing a few like that will help you get the strength to get the last 2-4 reps of the PBF recommended 12 pull-ups.

b.oss wrote:Let qualify this by saying I know very little about exercise theory or science. But I think you may be doing them wrong. I'm sure an inability to have a proper grip must make your pullups more difficult than normal.

Pull up bars are not a lot of money at all. But it looks as if your doors are rather wide. Why not try betting pullup rings instead? Maybe you could just wrap them around that top post and let them hang?

Thanks for the insight! I had never thought of getting some rings, might try to do that as my next DIY project. Ditto on the bar, though I've seen DIY PVC bar tutorials on instructables and the like.

cheapo wrote:If you did pull-ups without the towel, your forearms and grip would get crazy strong! Maybe doing a few like that will help you get the strength to get the last 2-4 reps of the PBF recommended 12 pull-ups.

Just recently tried it. There's this small "edge" on the bar that's painful to grip. But yes, i do feel the burn without the towel, so i'll keep trying!

MikeHeath wrote:Gadgets are not really needed. But you have to do it right if you want to see some results. Just have a decent grip and space and place for your workout. Bars no Bars it does not really matters.

But you have to do it right if you want to see some results. <- Exactly, that's why I was inclined to ask here about proper technique. I've seen some videos and I don't think i'm that far off the mark... I don't maintain proper form all the time, but I always correct it when I notice it, and try to take a rest when losing proper ROM. I am not there yet, but I plan to keep going.